"You can buy your own modem as long as it's on the company's pre-approved list of which modems work in your region. Just head over to this portal, punch in your zip code, and Time Warner will give you a list of modems you can buy yourself."

Think of it like the difference between renting an apartment or investing in a home long-term. You'd be throwing away $48 a year by renting Time Warner's modem when you could invest in your own modem now and let it pay for itself over time.

There are about five modem options for New Yorkers, and even the cheapest model ($50) is faster than the rental Time Warner is offering up, he notes. See Aguilar's full post for a complete run-down.